Wiping apparatus for plate-printing machines.



W. c. KIMBER. WIPING APPARATUS FOR PLATE PRINTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED PEB. 1B, 1913. 1,095,725, 4Patented May 12,1914.

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W C. KIMBER. WIPING APPARATUS FOR PLATE PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB.18, 1913. I

Patented May 12, 1914.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. G. KIMBBR. WIPING APPARATUS PoR PLATE HUNTINGV MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED FEBJB, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914.

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RWOOD, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LONDON, ENGLAND.

WIPING .APPARATUS FOR PLATE-PRINTING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent-@(1 Igny 12, 1914 Application filed February 18, 1913. Serial No. 749,190.

on the line l-l of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a plan View of one end of the apparatus in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the ai'rows a, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus partly in section on the line 3--3 of Fig. l, and showing parts broken awa Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout; the drawings.

The wiping apparatus illustrated comprises three wiping rollers A, B, and C the spindles A1 B1 and C1 of which are carried in a frame-work D. The component parts of this frame-work are secured together by T0 ZZ fro/wm t may concern e it known that I, WILrnnn CHAI-mns Kleinen, a subject of the King of England, residing at Vest Norwood, London, England, have invented a certain new and useful .improved l/Viping Apparatus for Plate- Printing Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved wiping apparatus for plate printing machines and has for its object to provide for cleaning the plates or cylinders automatically and constantly, and at the same time more efficiently than has heretofore been possible. screwed bars D1, and the spindles A1 B1 and e wiping apparatus according to .the `(J1 are guided in sl1de-ways D (see Fig. l). invention isof the type in which the print- For this purpose the ends of the spindles are cleaned by a cleaning surface, E which such as a roller or an endless impervious band, to which there are applied supplementary cleaning devices, such as Scrapers, to remove and collect the ink `or color from the main cleaning surface and to clean the latter. In apparatus of this type it has been proposed that the wiping action shall be the resultant of two motions, namely a motion of translation of the wiper or of the plate, or of both of these parts, and a positive rotary or oscillating motion of the wiper itself, in a direction or at a speed 'other than that in or at .which it would be driven by A1 B1 and C1 carry box members fit between the slideways D2.

To adjust the position of the spindles in the slideways rods F are provided. These rods F are screwed into the box members E at one end and at the other end project through the framework D to receive nuts Fl. 'lhe nuts F l are preferably knurled to provide for finger grip and have extensions F2 which are guided in recesses in the framework.

`The spindles A1 B1 and C1 are resiliently mounted in the frame-work D for a purpose to be hereinafter described, springs G which ing plates frictional contact withr the printing plate, encircle the rods F tending always; to push and this arrangement isadopted in the wipthe spindles A1 B1 and C1 downwardly. '.lhe

springs G each engage a box member E at one end and at the other engage a collar IF on a screwed sleeve H. The sleeves H surround and guide the rods F and are screwed into the frame-work D above the slideways D2. Recesses H2 in the collars IlL are provided for adjusting the sleeves H in the framework and thus modifying the com* pression of the springs G. It will be seen that by this arrangement the rollers A B and C can be pushed upwardly against the pressure of the springs G but that the limit of the downward movement of the rollers is determined by the nuts F1.

The wiping rollers A D and C shown in the drawings or other suitable material and a leather, rubber-conlpound or like covering packed with some suitable. soft material J, the ends of the rollers being provided with suitable closures, such as washers or flanges J1.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that ing apparatus according' to the present in-V vention.

According to one feature of the present invention the wiper comprises a resilientlymounted roller between which and the printing plate there is translatory movement, said roller being positively driven in a direction or at a speed other than that in or at which it would be driven by frictional contact with the printing plate.

According to another feature of the invention the resiliently-mounted roller may be pneumatic. Other features of the invention relate to the mounting of the roller and to the construction and mounting of the Scrapers which clean the wiping surface.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference is directedto the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment of the invention by way of example.

In these drawings :`Figure 1 is an end elevation ofthe apparatus partly in section are composed of a core of wood i V2 whichy is screwed into the frame-work D after the trough has ,been hung on the pins V1. rEhe troughis thus securell held in position but may readily be dismounted by unscrewing the screw V2.

The operation oit the apparatus is as follows :Miers is well-known the usual plan is, when the plate or cylinder is engraved, toV

the spindles Al B1 and C1 carry gear wheels with a set-screw A? ld? and C2 respectivel the wheels A2 and B2 meshing vwith anridlerwheel K and the wheels B2 and C2 meshing with an idler wheel L. lThe idler rwheels K and L rotate loosely on studs l@ and L1 respectively which are screwed into theY traine-work D.. The wheel C2' is driven byY a wheel loll on a shaft M which may be carried by a bracket lil supported from the trame-work D. The shaft M is driven in any suitable manner 'from the printing macliineor example by a chain and chain wheel, the direction of rotation in the example illustrated being sucli that the rollers A B and C are rotated in the direction shown by the arrows Fig. l.

Carried adjacent each wiping roller is aA doctor or scraper l? which at one edge bears on the surface of the wiping roller (see Fig. l). Fach sera ier l?, which extends throughout the lengt-li of the roller with which it cooperates, is mounted on a` flat 'formed on a cylindrical bar Q and is secured thereon by screws Q1. The bars Q, are each pivoted at each end in a box inember Q2 guided in slideways D3 on the trainework D in a somewhat similar manner to recessed or engraved porto rub off the ink from the plain part of the plate. To attain an eiiicient speed of working it is essential that the ink or color should be cleaned'o'lt the plain part of theplate automatically and constantly while the machine is at work, and this operation is effected very eHiciently Aby the wiping apparatus according to the present invention.. Referring to Fig. 1, the plate or cylinder being wiped, which is situated below the wiping apparatus, is, bythe normal operation ot the machine, moved in the direction of the arrow c Fig l during the wiping operation, while the wiping apparatus is moved in the direction of the curved arrow Z Fig. 1 the rollers A, B and enters into the tions, and then rows l) Fig. l as already stated. The wipthat in which the box members Fi hereining action of the rollers A, B and C kon the before referred to, are guided in the slideplate is therefore the resultant of two mo-v tions, namely the motion of translation ot the wiping yapparatus (arrow d) and of the plate (arrow o), and ot a rotary motion of the wiper rollers themselves (arrows b), this combined action giving very etlicient results. lt will be appreciated that the direct drive imparted to the rollers in the opposite direction to that inwhich the rollers would be rotated by reason of rictioiial contact with the plate :during the wiping operation so that a scouring action is exerted on the plate. The motion iniparted to theV wiping apparatus as a whole (t. ein the direction of the arrow d) will cause the roller A to roll first over the plate to be wiped. of the ink or color and at lthe same time will be cleaned by its scraper l?, the direction of rotation being such Athat a clean surface will always be brought into contact Vwith the plate to be' wiped. rllie second wiping roller Bcoinpletes the wiping and scouring effect while the roller C imparts a shine to the surface of the plate. The ink or color ways D2. rllie box members Q2 are provided with screwed rods R extending upwardly through the trame-work D and carrying outside the latter nuts R1. Dy this means the height of the scrapers E can be adjusted at will.

In the construction illustrated the scrapersy P are not pressed downwardly by springs as are the rollers Bi, D and C, but another :torni of pressure device is employed. Bolted to the frame-work D by bolts Si are channeled brackets T which extend throughout the length'of the rollers A, D and C. rlhe brackets T carry pressure bars D having knurled heads U1, these bars being preterably guided by one flange out the channeled bracket and screwed through the other flange, as clearly shown in Fig. l. The

` engage the scrapers lower ends of the bars P and press them onto the rollers A, B and C, the pressure being modified when the bars U are adjusted in position in the channeledrbiackets T. Y

Suspended in convenient positions relatively to the scrapers P are troughs V to collected b v the rollers A., B and C will be receive the inlror colo-r removed from'the cleaned oit by the Scrapers F and transf wiping rollers by the Scrapers; rihese terred by the latter to the troughs V from troughs V should preferably be mounted in which it may be collected `and reused with such a way aste Vallow of being readily or without a suitable preliminary cleansing dismounted .in order that they may be or other treatmen. VThe resilient mounting emptied orreplacedby another trough. ln oft the rollers A., B and C allowsof any desired pressure being exerted on the plate or cylinder during the wiping f action, and allows the rollers to adapt themselves to -inthe construction shown in the drawin 's the g troughs V are each hung at one end on pins V1 iro'ectin@ Nromtlie frame-work D see l i, Fig. 2) and are provided at the other end C being rotated in the directionV of the ar-V B and C is rlhis roller will take up most D @qualities in the plates, while the adjustcover it with printers ink or color which j ustable in the framework and connected to said bearing blocks, a sleeve screwed into said framework and surrounding each rod and adapted to be adjusted in relation thereto, a spring on each of said rods bearing at one end against one of the aforesaid bearing blocks and at the other end against the aforesaid sleeve, a nut screwed onto each of said rods and having anv extension received in and guided by a recess in the framework, said nut, rod and, bearing block being held under tension by said spring, and means carried by the framework for rotating said roller in the direction opposite to that in which it would be driven by frictional contact with the plate being wiped.

4:. l'Viping apparatus for plate printing machines, comprising a framework between which and the plate being wiped there is adapted to be translatory movement, said framework having guideways, bearing blocks slidably mounted in said guideways, a plurality of wiping rollers mounted on said bearing blocks, each of said rollers having yits axis lying transversely of the direction of relative movement between the framework and plate, rods adjustable in the framework and connected to said bearing blocks, a sleeve screwed into said framework and surrounding each rod and adapted to be adjusted in relation thereto, a spring on each of said rods bearing at one end against one of the aforesaid bearing blocks and at the other end against the aforesaid sleeve, a nut screwed onto each of said rods and having an extension received in and guided by a recess in the framework, said nut, rod and bearing block being held under tension by said spring, and means carried by the framework for rotating said rollers in the direction opposite to that in which they would be driven by frictional contact with the plate being wiped.

5. Wiping apparatus for plate printing machines, comprising a. framew'or between which and the plate to be wiped there is adapted to be translator-y movement, a wiping roller mounted in said framework and having' its axis lying' transversely of the direetion of relative movement between the framework and plate, means carried by the framework for rotating said roller direction opposite ability of the Scrapers P allows of modification of the scraping action to suit different inks or different wiping surfaces, and also allows the rollers A, B and C to be dismounted readily, since the pressure rods U can readily be slacked back and the scraper turned out of the way of the roller.

rlhe nature and action of the leather, rubber-compound or like outer surfaces of the rollers A, B and C is such that practically all the ink taken up by them from the plate or cylinder is cleaned off by the scrapers, this being a great improvement over the absorbent wipers sometimes employed, since there is not the necessity to employ long bands of wiping` material, small rollers as illustrated in the drawings being quite sufficient.

Many other modifications may also be made within the scope of the present invention.

It will be seen that by the present invention not only is the surface of the plate cleaned while in use, but the cleanineP surface itself for example the rollers A, and C) is also cleaned so that the cleaning surface can be used again and again. Moreover owing to the fact that a freshly cleaned surface is always passing to the plate the latter is effectively wiped.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. Tiping apparatus for plate printing machines, comprising' a framework adapted to have a translatory movement over the plate to be wiped, a wiping roller mounted in and movable with said framework and having its axis lying transversely of the direction of movement of the framework, and means carried by the framework for rotating said roller in the direction opposite to that in which .it would be driven by frietional contact with the plate being wiped.

2. Wliping apparatus for plate printing machines, comprising a framework adapted to have a translatory movement over the plate to be wiped, a plurality of wiping rollers mounted in and movable with said framework and each having its axis lying transversely of the direction of movement of the framework, and means carried by the framework for rotating each of said rollers in the direction opposite to that in which it would be driven by frictional Contact with the plate being wiped.

8. Wiping apparatus for plate printing machines, comprising a framework between which and the plate being wiped, there is adapted to be translator-y movement, said framework having guideways, bearing blocks slidably mounted in, said guideways, a wiping roller mounted on said bearing blocks, said roller having its axis lying transversely of the direction of relative movement between the framework and plate, rods adto that in which it would be driven by frictional contact 'with the plate being wiped, a scraper blade carried by the framework and engaging with the surface of the wiping roller, a bracket adjustably mounted in, the framework and extending over the scraper blade, and a plurality of rods adj ustably carried by said bracket and engaging with said scraper blade to hold the same in engagement with the wiping roller under different tensions.

6. Wiping apparatus for plate printing machines, comprising a framework between in the l Vwith said scraper blade to hold the same in engagement with they wiping roller under diiierent tensions. Y

7. ln a wiping apparatus ofthe character described the which and theV plate to be wiped there is adapted to be translatory movement, said framework having guideways, a wiping roller mounted in said framework and having its axis lying transversely of the direcadapted to engage combination of a frame; means tion of relative movement between the mounted on the frame ramework and plate, rods adjustable in the with thesurface tolbe cleaned; a bar mountframework and plate, means carried by the ed onvthe frame; a scraper blade mounted on said bar and a engaging suriace dapted to engage with Vthe o' said means; means engaging with said scraper blade for holding the same in engaging position; and a` trough detachably mounted on the'irame and disposed beneath the scraper blade. Y f ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

winrnnn ennemis kransen.

framework for rotating said roller 'in the direction opposite to that in which it would be driven by rictional contact with the plate being wiper, a bar mounted to have movement in the guideways in the bracket, means for adjusting said bar in said guideways, a scraper blade carried by said bar and adapted to engage the surface of the wiping roller, a bracket adjustably mounted in the framework and extending over the scraper blade, and a plurality of rods each of which is screw-threaded into said bracket Nitnessesz at one end and is plain at the other end ARTHUR BBEY,

which is guided in the bracket and engages HARRY E. RIDGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

